Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Used To and Be Used To

Used to; expresses a habit, activity or situation that existed in the past but which no longer exists.
Example;
- Jean used to live in Singapore

Be used to; be accustomed to (to express habitual past)
Example;
- she is used to living in a cold climate
- she is accustomed to living there

The Perfect Progressive Tense

One event is in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or event.

Ø Present Perfect Progressive
I have been studying for three hours.

Ø Past Perfect Progressive
I had been studying for two hours before my friend came.

Ø Future Perfect Progressive
I will have been studying for two hours by the time you arrive

The Perfect Tense

One thing happens before another time or event

Ø Present Perfect
I have already eaten

Ø Past Perfect
I had already eaten when they arrived.

Ø Future Perfect
I will already have eaten when they arrive.

Progressive Tense

The tense say that an action begins before, is in progress during, and continues after another time or action.

Ø Present Progressive
He is sleeping right now

Ø Past Progressive
He was sleeping when arrived

Ø Future Progressive
He will be sleeping when we arrive

Simple Future Tense

At one particular time in the future, this will happen.

Examples;
Will;
- He will finish his work tomorrow
- I will watch television tonight

Be Going to;
- He is going to finish his work tomorrow
- I am going to watch television tonight

Simple Past Tense

In the past, this happened.

Examples;
- It rained yesterday
- I watched television last night

Simple Present Tense

The Simple Present expresses events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually.

Examples;
- It snows in antartica
- I watch television every day

Present Continuous with future meaning

What are you doing on Monday night?
I’m working late.

Are you doing anything on Tuesday?
No, I’m not doing anything.

Is your brother coming on Saturday?
Yes, he is.

Message with statements and imperatives

Message with statements
The meeting is on Monday
Requests;
- Please tell Susi the meeting is on Monday
- Would you tell her...?
- Could you tell her...?

Message with imperatives
Phone me this afternoon
Requests;
- Please ask him to phone me this afternoon
- Would you ask him to...?
- Could you tell him to...?

Comparisons with adjectives

Is New York bigger than Miami?
Yes, New York is bigger.
No, Miami is bigger.

Which is warmer, Miami or New York?
Miami is warmer.

Is New York more expensive than Miami?
Yes, New York is more expensive.
No, Miami is more expensive.

Which is more crowded, New York or Miami?
New York is more crowded.

Modal verbs would and will

What would you like to eat?
I would like a hotdog.
I’d like a pizza.

What kind of dressing would you like?
I’d like italian, please.

Would you like anyting else?
Yes, please. I’d like some water

What will you have to drink?
I will have a soda.
I’ll have tea.

What kind of ice cream will you have?
I’ll have chocolate, please.

Will you have anything else?
No, thank you.

Modal verbs can, could, may, would

Can I have a bottle of milk?
Could I have something for a sore throat?
May I have a package of chocolate?

I would like some vitamin C, please.
I’d like a bottle of honey.

Modal verb should

What should I do there?
You should go to London City.
You shouldn’t miss the beautiful view at London.

When should I go there?
You should go in the summer or fall.
You shouldn’t go in the winter or spring.

Similar Expressions

I, We, You, They, He, She, it (+)
be able to do it.
be going to do it.
be supposed to do it.
be to do it.
have to do it.
have got to do it.
used to do it.

Modal Auxiliaries

I, We, You, They, He, She, it (+)
can do it.
could do it.
had better do it.
may do it.
might do it.
must do it.
ought to do it.
shall do it.
should do it.
will do it.
would do it.

Imperatives

(V1+O)

Drink a cup every hour.
Don’t drink coffee too much.

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives
It’s an exciting town
It’s interesting
beautiful
clean
It’s not expensive
dangeraous
Adverbs
it’s a very exciting town
It’s very interesting
pretty cheap
fairly clean
It’s not very expensive
too big

Present Perfect

(S+have/has+V3+O)

Have you ever driven a taxi?
Yes, I have.

Has Jean ever gotten a speeding ticket?
No, she hasn’t.

Has Jim ever been to Hollywood?
No, he has (he’s) never been there.

Present Continuous

What am I wearing?
You are wearing t-shirt.

Who is Keanu talking to?
He is talking to Samantha.

Where are Sam and Jill standing?
They are standing near the table.

Is Samantha coming tonight?
No. she is working late.

There is, there are; one, any, some

Is there a restaurant near here?
Yes, there is. There’s one opposite the laundromat.
No, there isn’t, but there’s one near the hospital.

Are there any restaurant around here?
Yes, there are. There are some on Fourth Street.
No, there aren’t, but there are some on Palm Street.

Past tense

(S+V2+O)

How was your weekend?
It was terrific!
It was pretty good.
It was OK.
It was terrible.

What did you do on Sunday?
I watched the battlegame.
I saw a good movie.
I went to a concert.
Some friends came over.

Did you go to Tokyo?
-Yes, I did, and I went to Kyoto.
-No, I didn’t go to Tokyo, but I went to Kyoto.
How long were you there?
-I was there for two weeks.
-We were there for a month.

Adverbs of frequency

What do you usually do on your day off?
I always get up early.
I usually run for about 3 hours.
I often eat a huge lunch.
I sometimes go downtown in the afternoon.
Sometimes I just watch TV.
I never go to clubs.
I don’t usually eat out.

How often do you exercise?
I go to the gym every day.
I jog about twice a week.
I play basketball four times a month.
About three times a year.
I don’t exercise very much/very often.

Present tense – third person

What does she do?
She drives a car.

What does he do?
He teaches Italy.

What do they do?
They go to work.

Does your brother go to work?
Yes, he does.

Does your sister live here?
No, she doesn’t.

Do your children work in New York?
Yes, they do.
No, they don’t.

Object pronouns

Me
You (singular)
Him
Her
It
Us
You (plural)
Them

Yes/No questions with do

Do you like country music?
Yes, I do. I like it a lot.
No, I don’t like it very much.
No, I don’t.

Do you like the Beatles?
Yes, I do. I like them a lot.
No, I don’t like them very much.
No, I don’t.

Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns

How much is this necklace?/that ring?/it?
It is $50.
(it’s)

How much are these shoes?/those plates?/they?
They are $70.
(They’re)

Wh-questions with do; prepositions

Where do you work?
I work for British Airlines.
I work at/in a seafood restaurant.

Where do you go to school?
I go to Harvard.

What do you do?
I am a waiter. I serve people in cafe.
I am a student, and I work part-time, too.

Yes/No questions with be

Are you from Japan? No, I’m not. I am from China.
Are you a student? Yes, I am.
Is John a writer? Yes, he is.
Is Cathy Italian? No, she isn’t. She is American.

Personal Pronouns

I my
You your (singular)
He his
She her
It its
We our
You your (plural)
They their

Wh-questions with be

What is your name? My name is Noel.
Where are you from? I am from Chicago.

What is her name? Her name is Samantha.
Where is she from? She is from America.

What are their names? Their names are Jhon and Cathy.
Where are they from? They are from England.